Ed Balls has had a tough week – but today he was on top form

Ed Balls arrived on conference floor after a furious morning of media interviews. He’d been buffeted by attempts to link him to the nefarious deeds of Damian McBride. He’s been attacked by the Tories over a supposed “black hole”.

But none of that seemed to have any impact on him. At conference today his performance was imperious. A rousing call to arms for Labour activists. A pride in Labour’s record. A rip roaring list of Labour’s successes that drew sustained applause.

At times this felt like a leader’s speech, so broad and wide-ranging was it. But this was not an attempt to steal the limelight from Miliband. Instead, Balls was determined to credit the Labour leader on Syria, banking reform and phone hacking. It was perhaps the most on message “One Nation” speech that I’ve heard Balls give too. He’s not been one to adopt the language of One Nation (unlike some of the, perhaps, more eager to please members of the shadow cabinet) but today he trumpeted One Nation politics and a One Nation economy.

But – being the Shadow Chancellor – there was of course some economics, and some policy. The regular refrain about Tory failure on living standards that runs through this conference was there in force, but there was also some policy meat too. The announcement on extending childcare was welcome but expected. The announcement of Balls’ agnosticism on HS2 was less expected, but – for me – equally welcome. Spending £50 billion isn’t a bad idea if there’s growth to be had – but recent estimates suggest that HS2 won’t be a great growth multiplier after all. Although as George Eaton notes, a row between Balls and Adonis is presumably in the offing.

There will not though, I expect, be any rows between Balls and Miliband over the former’s speech. It could have easily been delivered by the Labour leader. It was the tub-thumper that we’ve come to expect from Ed Balls at Labour conference. And it set the scene for what, I hope, will be a strong speech from Miliband tomorrow.

Now, the other Ed must deliver too.